... hints of Lucinda, a dollop of Joni, shades of Patti, all Rosanne Baker Thornley - Lenny Stoute, BTW 34
While there’s no doubting her writing skills, her voice has endured as that warm, supple, theatrical instrument, changing skins to suit the song, equally at home with the beauty and the heartbreak. That and the crystalline production and arrangements of Will Schollar puts “Sorry I’m Late” squarely in the front ranks of current releases in this genre.
Lenny Stoute , BTW 34
Underneath the last light on the sad, rain swept street, a woman is waiting, She is waiting for someone, something somehow. She is waiting for a song. She can hear its ghost. It carries hints of Lucinda, a dollop of Joni, shades of Patti.
When it arrives, it will be all Rosanne Baker Thornley. The woman underneath the street light.
Rosanne Baker Thornley had dual music careers in the Nineties, as a road warrior with Daystar and Niteskool and as a singer/songwriter signed to Sony who birthed the critically praised ‘Courage’ album.
In the moment, she’s back with an engaging album sardonically titled ‘Sorry I’m Late’, a wry reference to the 28 years between albums.
Rosanne Baker Thornley (RBT) describes the album: “The narrative that runs through Sorry I’m Late is life and the pieces of that journey. The insights. The moments of awe. The losses. The lessons. The determination to continue on. My inspiration comes from everywhere - from experiences and people - both good and bad. I have an intuitive calling to capture and describe those moments.”
Based in Toronto, Thornley has been evolving and expanding her relationship with music (and writing) for quite some time.
This solo album delves deeply into the very intense personal space, into this collection of songs that come from her life and what she knows - her own vulnerability, honesty and bravery leading the way.
Having written for, and with many other artists, RBT is a sought after writer/co-writer and producer by many other artists established and new. She released her debut album, ‘Courage’ in 1994 - which was well received - but life interrupted that early success - and all these years later Rosanne returns to her solo career.
Over the past few years, she has continued to hone in on her gifted writing talents. While there’s no doubting her writing skills, her voice has endured as that warm, supple, theatrical instrument, changing skins to suit the song, equally at home with the beauty and the heartbreak. That and the crystalline production and arrangements of Will Schollar puts Sorry I’m Late squarely in the front ranks of current releases in this genre. That would be roots and Canadiana inflected folk.
“Will did a wonderful job of respecting the songs and doing what the song called for.”
With comeback single “Strong” released September 2021, and “In Paris” released February 25, 2022, Rosanne has her sights on reconnecting with fans to ignite a renewed interest in music created by her, for her to perform and share.
This is now Rosanne Baker Thornley’s time to step front and centre with Sorry I’m Late - a very special album filled with an unpredictable, vulnerable, and sincere collection of music.
“My hope is that my music and I will reach and fit into people’s lives, everywhere. That my songs will resonate with people who are struggling with, to or from something. That my songs will tell their stories and pull people into a space that is healing, hopeful, familiar, inspirational, safe. That people will feel seen, comforted, heard.”
RBT has several personal goals for the album’s release - she hopes to inspire listeners to not just ‘listen’ but to feel the words. RBT’s mantra is authenticity and no compromise as to who she is and where she belongs.
Skipping around in ‘Sorry I’m Late,’ I found its love songs of beauty and anguish went like so -
“Perfect Heart” is largely a voice and piano workout, detailing the singular heartbreak of the girl with the perfect heart. This song and a few others have lyrics that can be taken two ways, at once commiserating with and challenging of, in this case the very idea of the perfect heart.
“Strong” sounds like it might be the flip to its predecessor but it too is a testament to pain and loss, “how do you say goodbye and move along, how is anyone that strong.”
“One More Line”’s stately piano line waltzes you into its shivery landscape of challenges and opportunities both inside and outside those lines to be crossed and lines to skip away from.
“In Paris“ opens with a bright chiming guitar passage that sets the joie de vivre mood perfectly for a plane ride to Paris ... ”don’t take a pass, love goes by so fast,” she croons knowingly.
“Her Mother’s Eyes” musically more pure folk than most here, rummaging through back pages, mothers memories, nostalgia, the world in a mother’s eyes, and through a mothers eyes.
“Barely” lives up to its title, sung in a whispery, barely there voice giving the whole thing an ephemeral vibe, like a singing pixie glimpsed out the corner of your eye. Another song coming from a place of barely hanging on, but hanging in.
“Look Up” another fragile beauty, solemnly chorded and ahem, uplifting. Crystal clear and incredibly nuanced production gives new life to the ancient recital “she was barely seventeen with a suitcase full of dreams,” who goes on to have it all then comes the fall.
The jazzy, sassy “Because of Me”, “you can’t stay because of me, sing your song and then you leave, but you keep coming back because of me.” Yes, it’s RBT as the ‘other’ woman and loving playing the role.
“Give Me One More Night” the passing of time on speedy feet, “I can feel your lips against my skin. Give me one more night for what I need to say”. With the ominous cold tone of steel guitar in the background…the song at the end of it all.
“That’s All I Want”, RBT as submissive. “I’ll be the girl who knows just what you want”, pop sensibility lurking in the background which makes this one sound very coverable . Reliving the beautiful times, remaking it just you, just me, and having the time of our lives …
The title track “Sorry I’m Late” ‘a conversation I couldn’t leave, raise the kid and walk the dog, a thousand things I had to do, lots of bills I had to pay, lot of lanes I couldn’t change” And coming through at the end, still standing tall, still making music. It’s a show stopper with a killer chorus that’s a roll call of the years as they swiftly flow by. Plus, the band is finally turned loose to rock the house and rock it they do.
‘Sorry I’m Late ‘is the kind of album you’ll be going back to as there is much to unpack of a nature that coaxes you to take your time about it. A solid comeback for an artist poised for her second coming and these songs are just the ticket to get ‘er done.
“Sorry I’m Late” : The Album - Available here
Lenny Stoute
Lenny Stoute is a veteran entertainment journalist based in Toronto, Canada. His credits include entertainment columnist for the Toronto Star, Canada's largest newspaper; Editor for Music Express, Canada's national music magazine; Editor at Cashbox Canada Magazine; as well as stints at the Globe & Mail, eye, Metro and assorted like-minded media outlets.